The party Howard Doody Dean called “the white party” has just elected their very own black guy, Michael Steele, as Chairman of the Republican National Committee. All four black Republicans are reported to have said, “groovy.” Okay, I made that last part up, there are at least 5 black Republicans. From the Associated Press:
The Republican National Committee has elected former Maryland Lt. Gov. Michael Steele the first black Republican National Committee chairman. Steele was the most moderate candidate in the field and was considered an outsider because he’s not an RNC member. He beat back four challengers, including incumbent Mike Duncan, who was forced to withdraw from the field midway through the balloting in the face of a lack of support.
Oh, goody. Maybe one day Asians, Natives, Hispanics and others will get to run for president of stuff, too. Then, if we’re lucky, we can hope for a woman.
I don’t remember why Watts dropped out of Congress, but last I heard he now runs a public relations firm and was working toward launching a cable channel focused on news from the varied perspectives of blacks. (Think BET focused on news instead of entertainment.) I recall reading that the channel would be bipartisan in its coverage and opinions.
Craig,
I was very disappointed when J.C. Watts decided to leave politics. His was a voice that was and is badly needed in Washington. After he dropped out, I saw him on a program or two, one I think was an infommerical – for what I can’t remember. Why did he drop out and what is he doing now, do you know?
Nobody mentioned JC Watts. He’s a black Republican too. I still don’t think the total number has reached double digits, though.
I might add that this is the first time I have seen local Democrats take this much interest in an RNC election. There are many more disenchanted out there than the news media admits.
FFO, I really don’t know, but from the reception he got here in Maryland from a lot of ex-Democrats, I think he and Sarah Palin would make a formidable team.
This is just my opinion, of course. Mr. Steele lives in Mitchellville, Md., about 10 minutes from my home. I know from local interviews that have been done with and about him that he is highly respected in the community, and of course, the publicity he will be getting as RNC Chair won’t hurt. I definitely think he is one to watch.
FFO, I’ll do a little Steele research, then do a post in the coming days about my thoughts regarding his viability vis a vis black voters. Not sure if it would be a class over culture thing though. More likely he’ll appeal to the moral compass of a lot of black Christians across the board. The ones Obie was talking to when he put down the “irresponsible” ones. Steele will be able to take those kinds of right-wing talking points back. At the very least, I think this pretty much assures it’s bye-bye Affirmative Action.
lee M, since you know more about Steele, could he be an unknown in the horse race for 2012?
Cinie and Sugar, totally agree with you both.
Steele was voted in because he was an effective counterpoint to the “Republicans are racists” theme Dean expoused and Obama exploited. But from what I’ve heard about Steele and the little I’ve heard him say on TV — he seems to have a strong moral compass and speaks with conviction. And IMO he can actually answer questions without hedging and talk without teleprompters; an effective communicator using layman terms. So he may be able to counter the elitism so many people feel is dominating the Democratic Party and appeal to working class Blacks. Just some of the commentary I hear today.
No wonder the Dems are trying to get the 8 year term limit amended. Steele could be an effective candidate in 2012. Is this why the MSM was pushing Jindal and now Palin… to throw in instead a solidly conservative skilled Steele? thoughts?
Sugar, that title comes with the black Republican territory.
Cinie, I didn’t think he had a snowcone’s chance in hell of winning that post, but I think that the RNC members knew that with him as their head, they would have an easier time criticizing BHO without the word “racist” being tossed at them on every hand. Now, Steele will just have to hear the word “sellout” more often.
Thanks, M. Stick around, set a spell.
glad I stumbled onto your site btw….good commentary & quite inciteful posts!
In a WWE kind of way! & if ya smell what the Rock is cooking kind of way! none of those other guys got a thing on the Rock, in my opinion, class of his own!
Colorful? In a Tiger Woods kinda way? Or Don King? Liberace?
Dwayne Johnson aka the Rock is fine no doubt about it! very colorful guy….
The GOP has the fewest women and minorites but they push the ones they have to the front.
The Democratic party has the most but usually pushes them out of the way.
myiq, “Condi, Clarence, Colin, Alan and Lynn?”
Oh, my!
Ms. M. dunno. Don’t think so, though. No matter, a little black is all black, unless you’re The Rock.
sorry to not clarify Cinie, reference to the ofc of the presidency….& how historians will record our historic first as AA or bi-racial….Is Steele bi-racial?
Condi, Clarence, Colin, Alan and Lynn?
HT, I don’t hear from you for weeks, then you show up and call me deluded?
Just kidding, you’re right, I totally forgot about the “Pets Before ‘Ho’s” thing. My bad.
Lee, I don’t have an opinion about Steele one way or the other, but I think it’s clear that he owes this appointment to a political chess move more than to his resume.
Thanks, David.
Sister, it was interesting that somebody on CNN made a big deal about Blago being the second disgraced Serbian politician; don’t remember who the other one is. Just seemed gratuitous to mention it, if you know what I mean.
Ms. M., bi-racial? Who, Steele or Obie?
well I wonder how the historians will record our historic first? the first AA or first bi-racial….historians have a tendency to be sticklers for details like that…..
We haven’t had much in the way of ethnic white presidents, either. Not likely to see a Pres. Stizlicki anytime soon. For all his talk of his funny name, Obama is strictly white bread on the side of his family that raised him.
Nice post Cinie.
Cinie, I was pulling for Michael Steele all along. Here in Maryland we learned to admire and respect Michael Steele when he was Lt. Gov. IMO he would have been elected Gov. if Karl Rove hadn’t kept after him to run for the senate. Although I was a Democrat at the time (I am now an Independent) I voted for him because from all I could find out about him, he was the better candidate. But in Maryland it is next to impossible for a Republican to be elected to any office, and going against Ben Cardin, an entrenched Democrat made his task that much more difficult.
I never did look at Steele as an AA. I looked at him as an honest man in whom we could put our trust. I think you will find his management of the RNC will be much different from that of Duncan. I’ve been wrong more than once in the past, but with Steele and Sarah Palin in the same party at least the Republicans have the nucleus of something better than they have had in the past.
And just for the record he and Palin both were insulted in much the same way. While she was called a hick (and worse), Steele was called an oreo. Both were victims of the same stupid bunch of fools that don’t think for themselves, but follow the party line no matter how egregious it might be.
delurking. Cinie, you are so darned funny…but deluded. There’s no way a woman will be considered until all the dogs and cats have been vetted.